Topical Bible: Righteousness: The Wicked should Sow to Themselves In

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Righteousness, a central theme in the Bible, is often juxtaposed with wickedness, highlighting the moral and spiritual dichotomy between those who follow God's ways and those who do not. The concept of righteousness is deeply rooted in the character of God and His expectations for humanity. It is not merely about legalistic adherence to laws but encompasses a heart aligned with God's will, resulting in just and virtuous living.

Biblical Foundation of Righteousness

Righteousness in the Bible is primarily understood as being in right standing with God. It is both a divine attribute and a human responsibility. The Berean Standard Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of righteousness in the life of a believer. For instance, in Matthew 5:6, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." This beatitude underscores the deep longing and pursuit of righteousness as a hallmark of the faithful.

The Call for the Wicked to Sow Righteousness

The Bible often calls for the wicked to turn from their ways and embrace righteousness. This transformative process is likened to sowing seeds, where the wicked are encouraged to plant seeds of righteousness in their lives. Hosea 10:12 exhorts, "Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness upon you." This passage illustrates the proactive step required by those who have strayed from God's path to cultivate a life of righteousness.

Consequences of Sowing Righteousness

The act of sowing righteousness is not without its rewards. The Bible promises that those who pursue righteousness will experience God's favor and blessings. Proverbs 11:18 states, "The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward." This verse contrasts the fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying gains of wickedness with the enduring and fulfilling rewards of a righteous life.

Righteousness as a Divine Gift and Human Responsibility

While righteousness is a divine gift, imputed to believers through faith in Jesus Christ, it also requires active participation. Romans 3:22 affirms, "And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." However, believers are also called to live out this righteousness in their daily lives, as seen in James 2:24 , "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." This balance of faith and works underscores the comprehensive nature of biblical righteousness.

The Role of Repentance

Repentance is a crucial step for the wicked to begin sowing righteousness. It involves a sincere turning away from sin and a commitment to follow God's ways. Acts 3:19 urges, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away." This turning back to God is the first step in sowing seeds of righteousness, leading to spiritual renewal and transformation.

Righteousness and Justice

Righteousness is closely linked with justice in the Bible. The two are often mentioned together, reflecting God's concern for both personal morality and social equity. Isaiah 1:17 commands, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Correct the oppressor; defend the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." This call to action highlights the outward expression of righteousness through just actions and advocacy for the vulnerable.

Conclusion

The biblical call for the wicked to sow righteousness is a profound invitation to transformation. It is a call to abandon the ways of sin and embrace a life that reflects God's character and commands. Through repentance, faith, and active pursuit of justice, individuals can experience the fullness of life that comes from living righteously before God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness on you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Parable of the Tares, by Bishop Latimer, Preached on the 7Th ...
... Christ is accounted to be our righteousness, and through ... with violence to goodness,
although they are wicked. But they should admonish them only with the word ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /the parable of the tares.htm

"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his ...
... no temptation, if our hearts were not wicked hearts. ... eye, but one even Jesus Christ
his righteousness, and "Blessed ... mouth of all hell, then hell should have a ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iv they have corrupted.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... Who is Jehovah, that I should obey his voice?" And now ... are there any here who are
so wicked as to ... choosing sin; if thou art choosing self-righteousness, if thou ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Reprobation.
... the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the ... of your character, has any agency
in making you wicked. ... Suppose the farmer should make the same objection to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xliv reprobation.htm

Degeneration
... man further and further from God and righteousness, and lands ... should not escape;
but why should not all ... people who are not notoriously wicked escaping"people ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/degeneration.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... the man who keeps wisdom and the fear of God in his heart, should walk in ... The
righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Perseverance Proved.
... and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not ... of God keepeth himself, and
that wicked one toucheth ... in a qualified sense, we should naturally understand ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xlix perseverance proved.htm

How those are to be Admonished who Abstain not from the Sins which ...
... and yet draws not near unto righteousness, while the ... is written, I said unto the
wicked, Deal not ... the lamentations of penitence; that they should first bathe ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxx how those are.htm

Providence
... just, and that every man bears his own burden: that the righteous should be as the
wicked, that be ... have we sought first God's kingdom and His righteousness? ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xiii providence.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... to be on the safe side of the line, should lull himself ... Righteousness is the soul's
true food. ... This tendency caused the wicked of Christ's times to say that he ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 2.htm